Jesus told the parable or story, of the ten wise and foolish women who were bridesmaids to teach people about the Kingdom of God.
Weddings were done very differently in Israel. Instead of waiting for the bride to arrive, like we do today, everyone assembles and waits for the bridegroom to arrive.
Jesus said, that, ‘at that time, the Kingdom of God will be like the ten bridesmaids who went out at night with their lamps to meet the bridegroom as was the custom’.
The lamps used oil to burn and looked like this. This was a long time ago, before people had lights on their phones or used batteries.
The bridegroom took a long time to travel to the wedding and the bridesmaids became sleepy because it was getting past their bedtime.
Suddenly, there was a shout of excitement as the bridegroom was spotted travelling towards the wedding.
The women all woke up and tidied up their lamps so they would keep burning bright for the bridegroom. Five women were wise and knew that the bridegroom might be a long time, so they took extra oil with them for their lamps. But, the other five bridesmaids were foolish and thought the bridegroom would be quick and did not take any extra oil with them.
Give us some of your oil they asked the wise bridesmaids. But the wise bridesmaids said, if we give you some of our oil, there will not be enough for all of us. Quickly, go and buy some more oil for yourselves.
The foolish bridesmaids ran to the market stalls to buy more oil, but whilst they were shopping, the bridegroom came and everyone entered the wedding feast, and the door was shut.
The five bridesmaids came back with their oil, but found the door shut and they could not get inside. They banged on the door and got very upset. ‘Let us in’ they shouted. But they were too late.
Jesus told this parable to teach people to be alert because they do not know when the Kingdom of God will come again.
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